Automatic beltmaking machine



May 16, 1950 J. RAGGI 2,508,191

AUTOMATIC BELT MAKING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1949 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 u y INVENToR. closEPH RAGGI fama@ ATTE/@VIV May 15 1950 J. RAGGI 2,508,191

AUTOMATIC BELT MAKING MACHINE Filed June 22. 1949 u 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 JosEPH RAGGI May 16, 1950 J. RAGGI AUTOMATIC BELT MAKING MACHINE 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 22, 1949 May 16, 1950 J. RAGGI 2,508,191

AUTOMATIC BELT MAKING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1949 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. JOSEPH Rfxasr May 16, 1950 J. RAGGI 2,508,191

AUTOMATIC BELT MAKING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1949 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 .p- 'In' -q-U' I" ZI 187 2a: 25] l' I'. l 235 i 187 ,50o 204 l I 1 "7 1 :92H90 6, 5m f 502 (7 f P241 228 0! ,I ik 255 A M. w le? 202 l zall Ih 234 zl/ 227 8' I 1|" 23Zv|1l Ir 1 :se 277 2 78' -P .1v JL- Ze '2v-77 26g 262 [1th I e: y I 2036 m 22g ..2 u .f ze? :7i [Ill .r ,97 p 278 1262!! .H "|785 I d 268 |l .1' l' Il. l lh l l" l id L' mi Il I l Z64`z`7 487 U9@ 45s l' I l al i 90 l 1 247 545 |255 l 4a t l 3116Il @6 4 sa l 8 88 65 252 s 25' I| 25 6? 70 I 0 :1: 98 I 474 "nl l as m 9.5. 4' mi" I a7 i z 48 l" sa "au .15J 3:50 375 l i l 340 l I :5:7 529 zw@ im n .-0-

|l 37.7 l I j 57 573- 3?? 67 M Il 594 57.5 wel l 350 9! 557 92 77 y@ It A. l 75 t i 95 f5 l 77 77 l 174 i 74 l l 76 75 l l INVENTOR. Il JOSEPH RAGGI May 16, 1950 J. RAGGI 2,508,191

AUTOMATIC BELT MAKING MACHINE Filed June 22. 1949 14 sheets-sheet e 15a l y z IN V EN TOR. dosi-:PH RAGGI May 16, 1950 v J. RAGGl 2,508,191

AUTOMATIC BELT MAKING MACHINE Y Filed June 22, 1949 14 Sheets-ShedI '7 1m 'E/voR. JOSEPH RAGGI v BYMBM May 16, 1950 A J, RAGGI 2,508,191

AUTOMATIC BELT MAKING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1949 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 60 zo J a Z2 22a 224 6l 226 l5 Z22 222 226 225 zu f8 Y .zzf, zal -1 ,Al zzr zzz ril zwY @f LZ22 k 62 r6 224 2 :z5

IN VEN TOR. JOSEPH RAGGI May 16, 1950 J. RAGGI l 2,508,191

AuToMATlcBELT mmm: MACHINE Filed June 22. 1949 i 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 May 1 6, 1950 J. RAGGI 2,508,191

med June 22. 1949 v 14 sheets-sneer l1o AUTOMATIC BELT MAKING MACHINE INVENTOR. JosEPH RAGGI ATZ'HNEV May 16, 1950 J. RAGGI 2,508,19

AUTOMATIC BELT MAKING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1949 14 Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTOR. JOSEPH RAGGI May 16, 1950 J. RAGGI 2,508,191

AUTOMATIC BELT MAKING MACHINE Filed June 22l 1949 vI4 Sheets-Sheet 12 INVENTOR. JsEPH RAGG.:

May 16, 195o J. AGG 2,508,191

AUTOMATIC BELT MAKING MACHINE E- 7 5 Sw T955. '7

J5-JZ INVENToR.

JOSEPH RAGGI Affi/921755 May 16, 195o J. RAGGI 2,508,191

AUTOMATIC BELT MAKING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1949 n 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 :er we Mzzl 227 'l' A l 4.9 55 s y 167 15.5 157 155 l INVENTOR. JOSEPH RAGGI y with the link feeding mechanism.

Patented May 16, 1950 s PATENT.'

OFFICE AUTOMATIC BELTMAKING MACHINE Joseph Raggi, New York, N. Y. Application Juno 22,1949, serial No. 100,730

34 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an automatic belt making machine.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a self-contained machine which is fully automatic in its operation to form a belt from a plurality of interengaged links connected with a suitable tongue in a manner so that the belt need only be completed by the addition of a. buckle upon being discharged from the machine.

Another object of the present invention proposes the construction of a belt making machine including a punch operated in timed relation with the other mechanisms of the machine to continuously cut the links from a continuous strip of material in a manner so that the links will be available to be interlinked by the machine to form the belt.

A further object of the present invention proposes the provision of mechanism for continuously drawing the strip of material from a roll thereof and feeding it to the punch of the machine in a manner to have the links cut therefrom.

Still another object of the present invention proposes providing the machine with link feeding mechanism for conveying the links from the punch and engaging them with the proper slots of the belt being formed in the machine and which operates in timed relation with the punch to carry each link as completed from the punch to the belt being formed.`

A still further object of the present invention proposes the provision of a novel mechanism for holding the belt being formed on a tongue member with its proper slot aligned with the link feeding mechanism in a manner to insure that each link conveyed by the link feeding mechanism will be engaged with the proper slot of the belt being formed or a tongue member.

Still further the present invention proposes constructing the belt holding mechanism to include a pair of feed rollers between which the belt being formed is disposed with mechanism for periodically rotating the feed rollers in a manner to feed the belt being formed vdownward following each .engagement of a link in a manner to lalign another slot of the belt being formed t As the slots of the belt beingformed, with which'the links are engaged,fa,re Islots of the links, those slots are shorter than the width of thel links, therefore, the present invention. pro- `,poses .novel mechanism fon curling. the 'sides of .the link being conveyed by the link feeding mechy:anism inamanner to-.permit itto be engaged Cl. 59-3) y 2 with the slot of the belt being formed by the link feeding mechanism.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the machine with mechanism for uncurling the link after it has been engaged with the belt being formed and for holding the inserted link in position in a manner to permit the link feeding mechanism to be withdrawn without withdrawing the link from the slot of the belt being formed.

The invention further proposes the provising of a novel counting mechanism associated with the machine and which is adjustable to be preset to control the number of links which will be interengaged to form any one belt in a manner to permit the machine4 to form belts of different lengths.

Still another object of the present invention proposes the provision of a, novel release mechanism associated with the counting mechanism in a manner to be operated thereby to free the formed belt to drop from the bottom of the machine after the desired number of links have been engaged therewith.

'A further object of the present invention proposes the provision of a novel magazine containing a plurality of preformed tongues mounted on the machine to be operated in timed relation with the counting and belt release mechanisms to free one of the contained tongues to drop into the machine and be drawn into proper position by the feed rolls.

A still further object of the present invention proposes forming the magazine withv suitable mechanism to insure that only one tongue will be dropped from the magazine upon each operation thereof.

The present invention proposes so constructing the belt making machine that operationof the punch and the link' feeding mechanism'will be temporarily suspended during the time that the completed belt is being dropped from the machine and the new tongue lis beingfed into the machine in a manner to insure that the new tongue will be-in its proper l,position before any additional linksl are `fed 'toward the belt holding mechanism: A

' `It is a, further"objectl of the'present inventionto providethe-mahine with mechanism controlled-by thedroppin'ggof the tongue to release the punch and link feeding mechanismlfor continued operation whenthe proper slctwof the tongue is in 'alignment with"the""l ink feeding mechanism 7" Stillanother object:ofthepresentinyention proposes connecting the counting mechanism with the mechanism controlled by the dropping of the tongue in a manner to insure that the counting mechanism will be reset to zero each time the punch and link feeding mechanism is released for continued operation.

Another object of the present invention proposes providing the belt making machine with a single rotative cam for controlling the operation of the various mechanismsl in a manner to insure their operation in the proper timed relationship.

A still further object of the present invention is the construction of a belt making machine which is fully automatic in its operation so that it needs no attention from the operator beyond the periodic replacement of the supply of material from which the links are punched and the periodic replenishment of the supply of preformed tongues in the magazine.

It is a further object of the present invention to construct a belt making machine which is simple and durable and which can be manufactured and sold at a. reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig'. 1 is'a front elevational view of the automatic belt making machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but with some of the top parts removed and others broken away to reveal underneath parts.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4.4'of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a partial enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a partial enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 4. 1

Fig. 8 is a partial enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a partial enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line 49--9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a partial enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line Ill- I6 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a partial rear elevational view looking in the direction of the line Il-Il of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a partial enlarged transverse vertical sectional view looking in the direction of the line l2-I2 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line |3-I3 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view of the punch, per se. Fig. 15 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the punch taken on the line lli-l5 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a horizontal sectional view looking in the direction of ,the line I6-l6 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a partial enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line II-I'l of Fig. 7.

Fig. 18 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line lll-I8 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a partial longitudinal sectional view taken on the line |9-l9 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 20 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the tongue magazine taken on the line 20-20 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 21 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 20,

4 but illustrating the parts in a different position.

Fig. 22 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 22-22 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 23 is a perspective view of one of the members of the counting mechanism illustrated, per se.

Fig. 24 is a .plan view of the disc cam, per se.

Fig. 25 is a. vertcal sectional view of the disc cam taken on the line 25-25 of Fig. 24.

Fig. 26 is a developed view of the disc cam.

Fig. 27 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the movement of the belt link toward engagement with the previously engaged links.

Fig. 28 is a view similar to Fig. 27, but illustrating a different position of the parts.

Fig. 29 is a diagrammatic vertical view looking in the direction of the line 29--28 of Fig. 28.

Figs. 30, 31 and 32 are further views similar to Figs. 27 and 28, but illustrating still further positions of the parts.

Fig. 33 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 33-33 of Fig. 32.

Fig. 34 is a plan view of the operative parts oi the link feeding mechanism when moving in a direction to pick up a link to be inserted.

Fig. 35 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 35-35 of Fig. 34.

Fig. 36 is a plan view similar to Fig. 34 illustrating the position of the parts of the link feeding mechanism when the link has been picked up.

Fig. 37 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 31-31 of Fig. 36.

Fig. 38 is a. plan view similar to Fig. 36 illustrating the position of the .parts of the link feeding mechanism when they start their movement in a direction to engage the picked up link with the belt being formed.

Fig. 39 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 39-39 of Fig. 38.

Fig. 40 is a view similar to Fig. 38, butillustrating a different position of the parts.

Fig. 41 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4l-4I of Fig. 40.

Fig. 42 is a view similar to Fig. 40, -but illustrating a still further position of the parts.

Fig. 43 is a vertcal sectional view taken on the line 43-43 of Fig. 42.

Fig. 44 is a view similar to Fig. 42, but illustrating the picked up link partially engaged with the belt being formed.

Fig. 45 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 45-45 of Fig. 44.

Fig. 46 is a view similar to Fig. 44, but illustrating the link completely engaged with the belt being formed.

Fig. 47 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line "-41 of Fig. 46.

Fig. 48 is a View similar to Fig. 46, but illustrating the parts of the link feeding mechanism when they move away from the belt being formed after the picked up link has been engaged therewith.

Fig. 49 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 49-49 of Fig. 48.

The automatic belt making machine, according to the present invention, includes a frame comprised of a casing having a top wall 6l. a front wall 62, a rear wall 63 and end walls 64. The bottom of the casing is closed by means of a platform 65 which has its top face abutted against a ange 66 formed within the casing. Four legs 61 are provided for supporting the casing in a suitable elevated position and for holding the platform 65 in its position closing the open bottom of the casing. The legs 61 are formed adjacent their top ends with shoulders 68, upon which depending anges 69 from the casing rest, with the top portions or" the legs 6i extended along the'insideface of the' flanges 69' and with the bottom face of the platform 65 resting upon the' top ends of the legs 61. Nut

land bolt assemblies 10 are extended through the overlapped portions of the flanges 69 and the top portion of the legs 61 securely attaching the legs to the casing. y

The front wall 6,2, the rearwall 63 and the right hand end wall 64, as the machine is viewed in Fig. l, are formed with openings closed by 4 weight ofthe machineV and kalso provides a convenient means for providing access to the mechanisms contained within the casing.

power for the operation of the machine is derived from a continuous belt illustrated partially at Nin Figs. `1 and 6 8. The belt 14 engages over a pulley forming part ofthe machine and removed from the machine, that belt engages over a driving pulley (not shown) mounted on the driven shaft of an electric motor (not shown) or'thelike for causing the pulley 15 to be continuously'rotated when the motor .is energized. The pulley 15 is xedly mounted on a shaft 16 rotatively supported in a suitable bearing member 11 integrally formed with a f U-shaped bracket 18 supported to depend from theplatform 65. hollow and encloses a spaced pair of thrust bearl ings 19, see Fig. 6, through which the shaft 16l The bearing member 11 is is extended 'tov be rotatively supported thereby.

Y -The top portion of the lshaft 16 is sleeved by a tubular shaft 80. ..The'tubular shaft 80 is vertically slidably but non-rotatively connected with the shaft 16 by means'of a key 8|. see Fig. 6.

The top end of the tubular shaft 80 is integrally formed with a clutch'disc 82 which has secured to its top-face a` friction pad 83, by means of several rivets 84.` The top face of the friction `pad 83, which may be ofrubber or cork, is varranged to make contact -with a second clutch disc 85which is iixedlysecured to a shaft86, by i means of a key 81.

The shaft 86 is rotatively supported by spaced thrust bearings 88 nested in a bearingr block 89 positioned within an opening 90formed in 'th'e platform 65, see Fig. 6.

' `A cam disc 90, to be hereinafter described in greater detail, is mounted on the top end of the shaft 86. f

Means ,is lprovide for retaining the tubular .shaft80 in al raised position on the shaft 16 for retaining the clutch-discs 82 and 85 in an engaged position in which they `will function `to continuously rotatefthe `shaft 86 `and the cam disc 90 lwhen the shaft `16 Ais rotated. The retaining i, means'comprisesvr an `expansion spring 9| concentrically engaged about the shaft 16 and which `operates between thebottom end of the. tubular shaft 80 and afcollar` 92. l' The collar 92 is v 1 rotative on the shaft 16 and restsona shoulder 93 formed on'the shaft 16,'see Fig.` 6. Thus, the spring 9| retains the tubular shaft 80 in a raised yposition onthe shaft 16 to retain the friction pad83` in facial engagement with the clutch disc 85 so that the clutch discs 82 andk 85 function as a normally closed clutch'for driving the shaft :as fromme vshaft 1s. i

'Ehe il -shaped bracket 18 is supported upon the platform 65 by several tie rods 96 which depend from the bottom face of the platform 65. The

tie rods 94 have reduced bottomportions- 96 which pass through complementary openings formed in the intermediate arm of the U-shaped bracket 18. The reducedl bottom portions 96 are threaded and have engaged thereon nuts 96.

The' top ends of the side arms of the .il-shaped bracket 18 are formed with reduced tongue portions 91 which extend into complementary grooves. formed inthe bottom face of the platform `lili. The engagement of the tongue portions 81 WithY the grooves 08 assists the tie rods 94 in supporting the U-shaped bracket 18 against movement in a horizontal plane relative to the bottom face of the platform 65.

A punch 99 is supported on the left-hand end of the casing, as viewed in Fig. 1. for stamping the links to be used for forming the belt from a continuous strip of material |00. The strip of material is as wide as the links forming the belt and is wound into a roll |0|, see Fig. l, which is rotatively mounted on a pin |62 which extends from an arm' |03 mounted on one of the legs 61. f

The punch 99 comprises a plate |04, see Figs. 1 and 6, positioned over an opening |05 formed in thel left-hand end wall 64 of the casing, and

y the posts which plate is secured in position by means of nut and bolt assemblies |06. Integrally formed with the plate |04, there is a pair of spaced laterally extending arms |01. Rotatively extended between the outer ends of the arms |01 there is a pair of superimposed shafts |08 and |09. Fixedly mounted on the lower shaft |08 there is a driven roller ||0 and xedly mounted on the upper shaft |09 there is an idlerroller A gear I2 is integrally formed on the back side of the driven roller ||0 and that gear meshes with a complementary lgear`ll3, see especially Fig. 5, formed on the back side of the idler roller to cause the idler roller to be rotated when the driven roller |I0 -is rotated.

The contacting surfaces ofthe rollers ||0 and Il are coated with a layer of rubber ||4 to grip and feed the strip of material drawn from the roll Il when the rollers ||0 and ||I are rotated.

Means, to be hereinafter described, is provided for periodically turning the driven roller ||0 causing the rollers ||0 and to rotate to feed the strip of material |80. l

Specific details of the construction of the punch 99 are illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 14 to 16 and it is comprised 4of a bed ||5 integrally formed with the arms E01 between the rollers ||0 and Ill and the casing. Nested in the bed ||5 there is a, xed die member H6. Extended vertically from the top face of the bed ||5 there are four vertical posts H1, see Figs. 15 and 16. The bottom ends of the posts ||1 are formed with reduced portions ||8 passed through complementary holes formed in the bed |I5 and upon which nuts ||9 are threaded for securing the-posts ||1 to the bed IIS. The top ends of ||1 are also formed with reduced portions |20 which are passed through complementary ,V holes., formed in a top plate |2|.

'Threadedly engaged upon the top ends of the reduced portions |20 there are nuts |22 for attaching the'top plate to the posts H1; Accordingly, the posts ||1 function to support the plate |2| parallel to and ata xed position above `the bed H5. f

ASlidably mounted on the -l I1 between the 7 and 14, rotatively extended through adjacent faces of the bed .H3 and the plate |2|, there is a carrier |23. The carrier |23 is formed of metal and has secured thereto a movable die member |24. The central portion of the mov able die member |24 is secured to the carrier |23 by several screws |23, see Fig. 15. and has its ends secured to the carrier'l23 by nut and bolt assemblies |23. see Fig. 14. To increase the thickness of the carrier |23 where the posts ||1 slidabl; pass therethrough. the carrier |23 is provided with bushings |21 which project below the bottom face `of the carrier |23 and which slidably encircle the posts 1. Blocks |23 are extended along the sides of the carrier |23 over the projected bottom ends of the bushings |21 and are securedV in position by means of screws |23, see Fig. 16. Increasing the thickness of the carrier |23. by means of the bushings |21 and the blocks |23, causes the carrier |23 to move vertically on the posts ||1 without twisting with a resulting binding action on the posts ||1 which would interfere with free vertical movement of the carrier.

Resilient means is provided for urging the carrier |23 toward the iixed die member ||3 with suillcient pressure to insure that the movable die member |24 will cooperate with the nxed die member to cut the links from-the strip of material |00. The resilient means is characterized by an expansion spring which has its bottom end seated on the top face of the carrier |23. The top end of the spring |30 is extended through a hole 3| formed in the top Plate |2| and has its top end seated about a projection |32 formed on the bottom face ofthe intermediate arm of an inverted substantially U-shaped bracket, |33. The side arms ofthe bracket |33 extend along the sides of the spring |33 and have their free ends extended laterally outward along the top face of the top plate |2| and secured thereto. by means of screws |34, see Fig. '15.

Means operated by the cam disc sil is provided for holding the carrier |23 in a raised position against the action of the expansion spring |33 and for freeing the carrier to move the movable die member |24 toward the fixed die member ||3 under the influence of the spring |33. This means comprises a rod |35. see Figs. 4, 6, comple` mentary openings |36 formed in the arms |01. Fixedly mounted on the rear end of the rod |35, thereis a lever |31. and fixedly mounted on the front end of the rod there is an arm |33. The lever |31 and the arm |33 are extended parallel to one another, but the arm |33 is somewhat longer than the lever |31. The free end of the arm |33 is projected into the casing through an aperture |33 formed in the plate, |04. see Fig. 6. and through the opening |33 of the respective end wall 34. The inner end of the arm |33 rotatively supports 9, roller |40 Ato roll on the top face of rotates.

Links |4| have their bottom ends pivotally supported on the lever |31 and the arm |33, closely adjacent the rod |35, by means of pivot pins |42. The links |4| are formed with reduced top end portions |43 which are slidably and turnably extended -into complementary slots |44 formed in ears |43 which are integrally formed with and project laterally from the sides of the top plate 2| The reduced top portions |43 of the links |4| are of a width considerably less than the width of the links and continue from the cam disc 30 as the cam disc its outer periphery with a rounded portions |43. the bottom faces of The top face of the cam disc cam surface |41, see Fig. 26. consisting of a raised portion |43 and a lower portion |43. The raised portion |43 is considerably longer than the lower portion |43 and the adjacent ends of the portions |43 and |43 are connected by inclined surfaces |33 and |31 to permit the roller. |43 to pass from the raised portion |43to the lower portion |43 and vice versa. When the roller |43 is on the raised portion|43 of the top cam surface |41 the arm |33 and the lever |31 will be inaraised position in which the carrier |23 will be vraised against the action of the expansion spring |33 holding the movable die member |23 raised oi! the fixed die member ||3. as illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15. However. when the roller |43 rolls into the lower portion |43 of the top cam surface |41. the lever |31 and the arm i 33 will be free to belowered under the influence of the spring |33 which acts to lower the top plate |2| and the movable die member |24 toward the'ilxed die member ||3. As shown most clearly in Fig. 27, the links |32 out from the strip of material |33 and which are to be interlinked to form the belt. each have a rounded head portion |33, a reduced neck portion |34 and a larger body portion |33. The

rounded head portion |33 is formed with a single slot |36 and the body portion |33 is formed with a pair of slots |31 and |33. The slots |33, ,|31 and |33 are slightly longer than the width of the neck portion |34 and in forming the belt each link |32 is folded across its neck portion |34 so as to align the slot |33 with the slot |31, as will become clear as this specincation proceeds.

The die members |3 and |24 are arranged in a novel way to `first shape the head'an'd neck portions of the link and to cut the slots |33, |31 and |33 after which the free end of the body portion |33 is shaped, as Ashown in Fig. 3. To 'carry this out, the xed die member |.|3, see Fig. 4, has a portion |33 shaped to the form of the head portion |33 and the neck portion |34 of the link |32 and a plurality of openings |33 corresponding to the slots |33, |31 and |33. Forward of theportion |33, the nxed die member ||3has a portion |3i shaped to the form o f the free end of the body portion |33l of the link |32. 'I'he movable die member |24 is formed with three depending portions |32 arranged to enter the openings |33 and form the slots |33, |31 and |33 of the links |32. The movable die member |24 also carries a depending portion |33 4arranged to engage about the portions |53 and |3| when the movable die member |24 is lowered toward the fixed die member |i6. The bed ||3 which supports the fixed die member 'i i6 is formed with appropriately located openings |34, see Figs. 14 and 15. through whichthe punched out portions of the strip of material |30 drop to discharge from the machine.

Arranged in connection with the movable die member |24, there is a resiliently mounted pressure plate |33 to xedly clamp the strip of material |03 in position on the top face of the xed die member I|3 during the link punching operation. The plate |33 has a plurality of shahks |33 extended vertically therefrom and slidably projected through complementary holes formed in the die member |24 and the carrier |23. The

top ends of the shanks |33 are threaded and engaged by complementary nuts |31 which rest on the top face of the carrier |23 and prevent withdrawal of the shanks |33. Expansion springs |33 are concentrically engaged upon the shanks' |66 and operate between the adjacent faces of the pressure plate |05 andthe die member |24 urging the pressure plate |05 into a lowered position in which its bottom face will bel flush with the bottomends of the depending portions |62 and |63 of'themovable die member |24, as shown in Figs. 14 and l5.` d

The strip of material is as wide as the links |52 and is periodically fed between the adjacent faces` of the die members ||8 and |24 by7 the .rollers ||0 and] LWhenfthe strip of material |00`has Abeen fed the proper'amount, the roller f die member |24 will cause its depending portions |62 and |63 to enter the fixed die member ||6 to shape the free end of the body portion |55 of the foremost link |52 and simultaneously shape the |56, |51 and |50 ofthe next rearrnost link |52, as shownin Fig. 3. This faction frees the foremost link to be drawn into the machine by the link feeding mechanism to be hereinafter described. The act of not completely severing the nextrearmost linkl |52 from the strip of material insures that the `partially formed link will be advanced to the proper position to be picked up by the link feeding mechanism on the next movement of the strip of material |00. When the roller |40 again rides on the raised portion |40 of the top cam surface |41, the movable die member |24 will be raised off the fixed die member H6, against the action of the spring |30, disengaging its depending portions |6| and |62 from the iixeddie member ||6 and raising the pressure plate off the strip of material |00.

Fixedly mounted `within the casing, on the platform 55, at the end ofthe machine opposite the punch 99, there isa bracket |69, see Figs. 4 and 9, whichhas a wall |10 extended at right Aangles to the bracket |69. Mounted on the wall |10, .by means ofnut and bolt assemblies |1| .there is a block |12. The block |12 is formed with a vertical cutout |13, see Figs. 4, and 12,

' closed by the wall |10 and which forms a. vertical passage through which the belt |14 beingy formedY passes to discharge through an appropriately'located hole |15 formed in the platform f head portion 53, neck portion |54 and the slots 65, see Fig. 5; The bracket |69 is secured in posi- 'tion on the platform`65 by several bolts |16.y

To support the belt |14 in a proper elevated position to receive a further link |52, a pressure foot |11` has a portion slidably mounted in van appropriate guideway |12* formed in the top portion of the block |12. Attached to the block |12,

on `the side opposite the wall |10, there is a U-shaped bracket |10. The bracket |18-is secured in position by the same nut and bolt assemblies I1| which secure the block |12 to the wall |10. A thumb screw `|19 is threaded through the bracket |10 and is formed with a reduced inner portion, see Fig. 5, which extends into the adjal0 l nut |8| is threadedly engaged on the thumb screw |19 to be tightened'against'the adjacent face of the `U-shaped bracket |10 forlocking the thumb screw |19 in a proper adjusted position to control the tension on the spring |00. The spring |00 should exert a sumcient pressure to clamp the belt |14 against the adjacent face of the w'all |10, as shown in Fig. 5, to holdthe top of the belt with the proper slots of the `links |52 aligned with the link feeding mechanism to have thelink |52 engaged therewith, this is the position shown in Fig. 5. However, the spring |00 should not exert such pressure as to prevent the belt |14 from being drawn downward when required` following each insertion of a link |52. l

The link feeding mechanism, previously `re ferred to, is lcharacterized by a pilot |82 and a feeder |03. The feeder |03 moves more slowly than the pilot |02 and actually carries the link which is to be added to the belt and the pilot |82 allel to the feeder |03 and a, vertical portion' secured to a pilot carrier |04, by means of a nut and bolt assembly |05, see particularly Fig. 5. The pilot carrier |84 is slidably mounted on rods |86 which are supported at their ends in brackets |01 secured'to the top wall 6| of the casing by means of bolts |88. Extended toward the punch 99 from the pilot carrier |04, there is a transfer |09 for conveying each completed link from the punch '99 to the feeder |03. The transfer |09 is comprised of a transfer arm |90 which is secured to the pilot carrier |04, at one of its ends, by a screw |9|. The free end of the transfer arm |90 pivotally supports a transfer member |92 which has a downwardly extended finger portion |93 extended away from the punch 99.

As the pilot carrier |84 moves on the rods |06 toward the punch 99, the finger portion |93 will contact the free end of the head portion |53 of the link |52 which is to be completed pivoting the transfer Vmember |92 upward so that the free end of theV finger portion |93 can ride across the top face of the link as the pilot carrier |04 completes its movement toward the punch 99. Prior to the time that the pilot carrier |84 starts its motion away from the punch 99, the action of the punch will complete that foremost link |52 freeing that link to be carried by the transfer to the feeder |03, which will be in the position shown in Fig. 5. When the pilot carrier |04 starts its motion away from the punch 99, the transfer member |92 will pivot downward, due to the action of gravity, causing the free end of the finger portion |93 to grip the top face of the completed foremost link |52 and carry it to a position over the top of the feeder |03. A'

The feeder |83 is formed of a strip of metal and has its top face formed with three spaced ratchet teeth |94 spaced from each other a distance equal to the spacing ofthe slots |56, 51 andi-|50 formed in the links |52. When the transfer |89 carries the completed link |52 to a position over the feeder |83 in which the slots |56, |51 and |50 are aligned with the teeth |94, those teeth will engage the slots so that the feeder |83 can now function to carry the completed link further. Up to this time, the movement of the feeder |83 has been slower than the rate of movement of the pilot |02, as will become clear as this specification proceeds, but now the rate of l1 movement of the feeder |93 begins to speed up so that eventually the feeder |93 catches up to the pilot |92. With this increased movement and since the teeth |94 of the feeder |93 are engaged with the slots |59, |51 and |59 of the completed link |52, the link will begin to move away from the free end of the finger portion of the transfer member |92. As such movement of the completed link |52 is in the direction in which the transfer member |92 is free to pivot relative to its transfer arm |90, the completed link |52 will merely slide beneath the free end of the finger portion |93.

The feeder |93 is iixedly mounted on a cross head |95 which is slidably mounted on the top wall 9| of the casing for movement to and fro between the punch 99 and the belt |14 being formed by the machine. The cross head |95 is slidably supported in a complementary slot |99 formed in the top wall 9| of the casing.

Means operated by rotation of the cam disc 90 is provided for oscillating the feeder |93 and the pilot |92 to'and'fro between the punch 99 and the belt |14 being formed by the machine and in proper timed relation with respect to each other.

This means comprises a crank pin |91, see Figs.-

4, 9 and 8, which extends vertically from the top face of the crank dise 90 within the top cam surface |41.v The crank pin |91 is non-rotatlvely anchored within a complementary opening |99 formed in the top of the crank disc 90. An arm |99 ls rotatively engaged on the bottom portion of the crank pin |91 and at its free end rotatively supports a vertical pivot pin 200. The top end of the pivot pin 200 passes freely through a complementary elongated slot formed in the top wall 9| of the casing. The front of the pilot carrier |94 is formed with an integral forwardly extending lug 202 formed with an opening through which a reduced threaded top'p'ortion 203 of the pivot pin 200 extends. A nut 204 is threaded onto the reduced threaded top portion 203 and clamps the lug against the shoulder of the pivot pin 200 at the base of the reduced portion 203 for securely connecting the pilot carrier |94 to the pivot pin 200. Thus, as the cam disc 90 rotates, theApilot carrier |94 together with the pilot |92 will be caused to oscillate to and fro on the rods |99.

The means for oscillating the feeder |93 also operates oi the crank pin |91 and comprises an arm 205 which projects radially from the top end y, amarsi of thecrank pin |91.' The arm 205 is secured y to the top end of the crank pin |91 by means of the peg 209 and through which the intermediate portion of a rod 209 slidably extends. One end oi' therod 299 is anchored in a recess formed in a block 209, by means of a pin 2|0. The blockl 299 is formed with a vertical passage into'which a pivot peg 2|| extends. The pivot peg 2|| depends from the cross head |95 upon which the feeder |93 ismounted'. t

The other end of the rod 209 is slidably extended through a passage 2|2 formed in, a block 2|3. Upstanding from the. block 2|3, there is a pivot peg 2|4.. The top of the pivot peg 2|4 extends freely through an enlarged opening 2|5 formed in the top wall 9| of the casing. Resting on the top face of the top wall 9| there is a rectangular plate 2|6 of a size greater than the l2 size ofthe enlarged opening 2|5 so that the plate cannot fall through the opening 2|5. The plate 2|9 is formed with a circular opening 2|1 through which the top end of the pivot `peg 2I4 rotatively extends. sleeved by .a ring 2|9 which turnably rests on the top face oi' the pivot peg 2|4. A pin 2|9 is engaged through the ring 2|9 and the top end of the p'ivot peg 2|4 securing the pivot peg 2|4 in position for r tation relative to the rectangular plate 2|9. l

The arm 205 is secured to thecrank pin |91 by the peg 209 so that the arm 295 is substantially forty-five degrees behind the arm |99 when the parts are in the position shown on the drawings; i. e. when the pilot |92 and the feeder |93 are at the ends of their strokes closely adjacent the punch 99. With this relationship between the arms |99 and' 205, when movement of the pilot |92 and the feeder |93 starts towards the belt |14, being formed in the machine, the pilot |92 will initially move more rapidly than the feeder |93 and will reach the belt |14 well in advance of the feeder. However, as the pilot |92 approaches the end of its movement toward the' belt |14, movement of the feeder |93 will be speeded up to the point where the feeder |93 catches up with the pilot, this can be understood from Figs. 34 to 49 which diagrammatically illustrate the relationships between the pilot |92 and the feeder |93 during their movements between the punch 99 and the belt |14. On the return movement of the pilot |92 and the feeder |93 the reverse is true. The feeder |93 initially moves more rapidly and then slows down and the pilot initially moves more slowly and then speeds up to catch up with the feeder |93.

As previously indicated, the feeder |93 during its movement toward the belt |14, being formed, carries another link |52 which is to be added to the belt. As the feeder |93 approaches lthe end of its stroke toward the belt |14, the feeder |93 catches up with the pilot |92 so that the feeder |99 and the supported link- |52 ride beneath the pilot |92, as shown in Figs. 42 and 43, until the feeder |93 completes its stroke when the feeder |93 and thelink |52 are completely beneath the pilot |92, as shown in Figs. 44 and 45. From the disclosure on the drawings, it will be appreciated that the pilot |92 and the feeder |93 are of a width less than the link |52 and that the pilot and feeder engage the links mid-way between their widths.

Means is provided for adjusting the position of the rectangular plate 2|9 on the top face of the top wall 9| of the casing to control the length -and/or the position of the stroke with relation to the punch 99 and the belt |14 being formed. 'I'his means is best illustrated in Figs. 'I and 22 and comprises a hollow cap 229 which is engaged over the top end of the pivot peg 2|4 and the rectangular plate 2|9. Diametrically opposite sides of'the hollow capY 229 are formed with outwardly extending flanges 22| which are secured to the top wall 9| on opposite sides of the opening 2| 5 by means of bolts 222. The cap 220 has depending side walls which extend along the adjacent sides of the plate 2|9 but which are spaced therefrom, Ias shown in Fig. 22.. To control the length of the stroke of the pilot carrier I 94 and to control the length of the stroke of the pilot |93. between the punch 99 and the belt |14 :being formed, the front and rear side walls of the cap 220 have threaded therethrough a pair of bolts 223 which have their inner ends abutting the The top end of the pivot peg 2|4 is 

